Most Dangerous Forms of Driver Negligence in Alaska
If you are a frequent driver, it is important to be confident in your driving abilities. However, it is more important to be experienced and skilled at driving if you plan to operate a motor vehicle on an occupied roadway. Having confidence isn’t enough if you aren’t a good driver, unfortunately. Sometimes, the things you may witness other drivers doing on the road might make you wonder how they ever passed their driving test. Drivers like this are enough to make you not want to get into a vehicle.
In the unfortunate event that you or someone you love has come into contact with a negligent driver while on the roadway, and as a result, you became an injured accident victim, contact an Anchorage car accident attorney. A skilled and qualified attorney will provide you with information concerning how you can collect financial compensation for your injuries and losses.
Dangerous Driver Negligence
Truth be told, there are many forms of driver negligence that take place on roadways in Anchorage and across Alaska every day. The following list was compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the US Department of Transportation. Safety is the NHTSA’s first and foremost priority, and its mission is to reduce the number of fatal accidents and injuries that result from automobile crashes in the United States. On their website, they list the top “risky driving” behaviors that most often lead to injurious and/or fatal accidents. These are also the most prevalent forms of driver negligence in Alaska today.
Intoxicated/Drunk Driving: Each day in the US, approximately 30 people lose their lives due to drunk driving accidents. This is equal to one person every 50 minutes. On average, in Alaska, around 20 people lose their lives per year due to drunk driving. Each year, on average, there are about 4,000 Alaskans arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. In the US, drunk-driving crashes claim over 10,000 lives per year. First-time offenders in Alaska face at least 72 hours in prison and a fine of up to $1,500.
Distracted Driving: Distracted drivers took the lives of 2,841 people across the US in 2018. In Alaska, the definition of distracted driving is any driver who chooses to read, send, or receive a text message while driving. The definition also includes any action that takes the driver’s attention off of the roadway and their surroundings. Alaska possesses the harshest distracted driving penalties of any state, and texting and driving has been illegal in the Last Frontier since 2012. Texting and driving is a class A misdemeanor in Alaska and carries a $10,000 fine penalty and up to a year in prison.
Speeding: Speeding, like other negligent driving errors, puts everyone on the road at risk. In 2018, close to 10,000 people lost their lives due to speeding in the US. Nearly 1 in 3 crash deaths in the US involve speeding, and a percentage of the yearly fatality rate related to auto crashes in Alaska can be attributed to speeding.
These are the top three most dangerous forms of driver negligence that occur today. One other form of driver negligence worth mentioning is fatigued driving, which claims the lives of approximately 800 US residents per year. If you’re tired, refrain from operating a motor vehicle. Even being marginally fatigued can lead to slower reaction times and a reduced attention span. Don’t be selfish when you get behind the wheel of a car, and think about the other people (strangers) you will encounter on the roadway.
In the unfortunate event that you or a loved one have been injured in an accident caused by the negligence, recklessness, or carelessness of another driver, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation for your injuries and incurred losses. The Law Office of Jason Skala has been successfully protecting and preserving the rights of injured accident victims and their families for many years. We boast a successful track record of satisfied clients whom we have readily assisted during the aftermaths of injurious accidents. No one should be forced to pay for injuries and losses incurred during driving accidents caused by negligence.
Contact our law firm today in order to be connected with a skilled and experienced Anchorage personal injury lawyer who will be able to inform you of your legal rights toward financial compensation.